E. Reyes

Background: Cardiovascular diseases, of which coronary artery disease (CAD) is a significant contributor, are a leading cause of long-term morbidity and mortality worldwide. In the years ahead, it is estimated that approximately half of the world's cardiovascular burden will occur in the Asian region. Currently there is a large gap in secondary prevention, with unrealised health gains resulting from underuse of evidence-based medications, including beta-blockers, angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), aspirin and other antiplatelet agents, and lipid-lowering drugs. Despite the almost universal recommendation for these drugs in unstable CAD, their under-prescription is well documented for patients with acute heart failure, non-obstructive CAD, and for secondary prevention of CAD. Objective: This article reviews the burden of CAD in Asian countries together with guidelines supporting evidence-based medication use from a secondary prev...

ABSTRACT From 1996 to 2002, we measured litterfall, standing litter crop, and litter turnover rates in scrub, basin, fringe and riverine forests in two contrasting mangrove ecosystems: a carbonate-dominated system in the Southeastern Everglades and a terrigenous-dominated system in Laguna de Terminos (LT), Mexico. We hypothesized that litter dynamics is driven by latitude, geomorphology, hydrology, soil fertility and soil salinity stress. There were significant temporal patterns in LT with litterfall rates higher during the rainy season (2.4 g m−2 day−1) than during the dry season (1.8 g m−2 day−1). Total annual litterfall was significantly higher in the riverine forest (12.8 Mg ha−2 year−1) than in the fringe and basin forests (9.7 and 5.2 Mg ha−2 year−1, respectively). In Southeastern Everglades, total annual litterfall was also significantly higher during the rainy season than during the dry season. Spatially, the scrub forest had the lowest annual litterfall (2.5 Mg ha−2 year−1), while the fringe and basin had the highest (9.1 and 6.5 Mg ha−2 year−1, respectively). In LT, annual standing litter crop was 3.3 Mg ha−1 in the fringe and 2.2 Mg ha−1 in the basin. Litter turnover rates were significantly higher in the fringe mangrove forest (4.1 year−1) relative to the basin forests (2.2 year−1). At Southeastern Everglades there were significant differences in annual standing litter crop: 1.9, 3.3 and 4.5 Mg ha−1 at scrub, basin and fringe mangrove sites, respectively. Furthermore, turnover rates were similar at both basin and fringe mangrove types (2.1 and 2.0 year−1, respectively) but significantly higher than scrub mangrove forest (1.3 year−1). These findings suggest that litter export is important in regulating litter turnover rates in frequently flooded riverine and fringe forests, while in infrequently flooded basin forests, in situ litter decomposition controls litter turnover rates.

One of the main air quality problems in the Mexico City Metropolitan Area (MCMA) are the high ozone levels, resulting from the photochemical reactions among precursors such as nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds. The MCMA air quality monitoring network includes 19 NOx and 19 O3 monitoring sites. However, no routine VOC monitoring is carried out. This work presents results of a field campaign done from September 2005 to September 2006 in the MCMA. 24 hours integrated samples were obtained every six days in five different sites, considered representative of the northwest, northeast, southeast, southwest, and center of the MCMA. Samples were obtained in stainless steel canisters adapted with a programmable flow controller. Analyses were done using a GC-FID to identify 57 VOCs following USEPA-TO-14A. A total of 354 samples were obtained corresponding to 62 sampling days. On the average, highest concentrations were found in the center, whereas lowest concentrations were found ...

Following publication of the National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) Guidelines in 2006, the use of β-blockers as first-line therapy in hypertension has been somewhat controversial. However, a recent reappraisal of the European Society of Hypertension guidelines highlights that these agents exhibit similar BP lowering efficacy to other classes of agents, prompting a re-examination of the utility of these agents in various patient populations. The authors felt that it is important to address this controversy and provide an Asian perspective on the place of β-blockers in current clinical practice and the benefits of β-blockade in selected patient populations. In addition to their use as a potential first-line therapy in uncomplicated hypertension, β-blockers have a particular role in patients with hypertension and comorbidities such as heart failure or coronary artery disease, including those who had a myocardial infarction. One advantage which β-blockers offer is the additional protective effects in patients with prior cardiovascular events. Some of the disadvantages attributed to β-blockers appear more related to the older drugs in this class and further appraisal of the efficacy and safety profile of newer β-blockers will lend support to the current guideline recommendations in Asian countries and encourage increased appropriate use of β-blockade in current clinical practice within Asia.